Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested an alleged billionaire drug baron and two female kingpins in a coordinated international operation targeting a transnational drug money laundering network linked to hundreds of billions of naira in illicit proceeds.
The NDLEA said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s Lagos Country Office and law enforcement agencies in Switzerland, France and Greece.
In a statement on Thursday, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the multi-country investigation led to the simultaneous arrest of the prime suspect in Switzerland and his accomplices in Delta State on April 28.
According to the agency, months of intelligence gathering across several jurisdictions uncovered an extensive network allegedly involved in laundering proceeds from drug trafficking and other financial crimes.
Babafemi said investigators traced multiple assets in Nigeria and abroad linked to the syndicate, including hotels and apartments in Delta State and Abuja.
“His operations in Nigeria included a complex scheme of front and shell companies, pass-throughs and delegates, and the use of numerous traditional and cryptocurrency accounts to conceal and launder illicit funds,” he said.
The NDLEA identified some of the properties linked to the suspect as Jovi Hotel in Asaba, Jovi Hotel and Suites in Agbor, and Jovi Apartment in Mabushi, Abuja.
The agency added that several bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets allegedly used by the network had been identified and blocked.
NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, described the operation as a strong warning to criminal networks operating across borders.
“This means the NDLEA maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward crimes that jeopardise the safety of the Nigerian people, the integrity of our national reputation, and the stability of our economy,” Marwa said.
He commended the support of the U.S. DEA and other international partners, noting that ongoing cooperation had strengthened intelligence sharing, tactical operations and investigations into narcotics trafficking.
“The NDLEA remains relentless in its pursuit of those involved in narcotics trafficking and associated financial crimes, regardless of where they attempt to hide,” he added.
